Tuesday, April 06, 2010

Tips from Blog Master Jemi

For those who want to know how to increase blog traffic, look no further!

Just Jemi is a fellow blogger buddy. She and I have about the same amount of Followers, but there's one big difference - comments. Jemi usually averages 70-80 comments PER POST!!! Yes, you read that right. (And here the couple times I've gone over 30, I got excited...)

So I asked her to share her secret with all of us...

Thanks so much Diane for inviting me to guest post over here at Spunk on a Stick. I really appreciate the invitation!

Diane asked me to talk about blog networking and how to generate blog comments. So, here’s the deal... um, I don’t know. I actually don’t pay a lot of attention to numbers. But maybe I can guess. :)

I think the key is fun. I know some people view blogging as a business, as a required activity for writers, as a time-suck. I don’t see it that way. Not at all.

For me, blogging is a great way to meet new friends. I’ve always liked people (and people watching), but I’ve also always been very shy. So meeting people through the written word? Awesome! No worries about awkward pauses. No worrying they won’t remember me – they can just check my name at the top of the blog. No sweaty palms. No... well, you get the idea.

People fascinate me. It’s amazing how people take the same idea (promote yourself as a writer), the same tool (a blog), and yet the products are infinitely diverse. Very cool. I like discovering who bloggers are through their colour schemes, blog layouts, photos, & arrangement of the items on the blog. I find it endlessly fascinating. I’ve met so many great people. So it’s natural for me to ask a question at the end of the post. I want to know how you think. I think that encourages people to respond. At least, I hope so!

Whenever a new commenter shows up at my blog, I get a little thrill of excitement. Who is he or she? How does he or she blog?

When I pop over and check out the new blog, I’m invariably drawn to follow. After all, this person found some connection between us. Otherwise he or she wouldn’t have bothered to comment or follow.

I put all the blogs I follow on my blog roll. I’ve got it set up to show more recent posts at the top. When I have some time, I open all the new posts. Sometimes there are 50 or 60 of them. They open on top of each other, so after I read, comment and close, the next one pops right up. I got this tip from Elana Johnson and her handy-dandy speed blogging tips :) Here’s the link if you’re interested Speed Blogging Tips

There are a few activities during which my laptop is nowhere in sight. Not too many though :)

I follow well over 100 blogs, and comment on most people’s posts at least a couple times a week, if not more. This probably encourages them to come back and visit me. Don’t know for sure. I do comment on every blog I read. If you’ve said something interesting enough to keep me reading, I think you deserve a comment. Otherwise how will you know you touched me, made me laugh, made me feel less alone, or that you taught me something new?

I also respond to all the comments on my blog. Right now I comment on the blog itself. I know most people don’t go back to see if they’ve gotten a response, but for now I’m going to continue doing it this way. It seems more like a group conversation and I like that. Some bloggers are responding to blog comments via email now. I like this idea too. Anything that makes a connection between you and the reader. Because if there’s no connection, what’s the point?

So, in summary, I think in order to generate comments on your blog, you have to multi-task like a crazy person, read quickly and have fun!! Any tricks you use that I’ve missed?

Hi Diane. I agree with Tara. Jemi is such a great blog friend. And thanks, Jemi, for sharing your tips with us.

I have to say that I do, if there's time, pop back to a blog I've commented on to see if it's been acknowledged. If it hasn't I feel a bit let down so now I always try to comment back when people have commented on my blog.

Well now, I didn't know about Jemi's blog, but I'll go visit now. These are great tips. And what I love about Jemi is that she's who she is - it's honest - not a ploy to make something happen. Thanks, Diane, for hosting her today.karen

I need to become more of a multi-tasker. I work off a laptop, but don't take it everywhere with me. I do, however, have an iPhone. I could be using it when I'm away from the house. Thanks for all the tips.

Great post. I'm bad about commenting because my schedule is so packed and a lot of the blogs I follow I get in my inbox, which is probably why I only have a handful of loyal commenters (whom I love dearly!) I'm working on freeing up time to do more blog visting and commenting. Definitely planning to check out those speed blogging tips and of course your blog. Heading there now. Thanks Jemi & Diane.

"I like discovering who bloggers are through their colour schemes, blog layouts, photos, & arrangement of the items on the blog..."

Oh, boy. This worries me. I've never been motivated to move beyond the simple classic look or whatever. I just figure my scintillating insights (and most of the time, quite frankly, my epic stupidity) says enough about my personality, so I don't have to bling it up. :)

I guess it boils down to "you give comments, you get comments," for me. So, um... here's a comment. See you around!

Trying to make more blog rounds today, as a usual I tend to read a weeks worth of post at a time when I do go visting. B Miller did a great post on commenting last Thursday and I had to come back here and share the link with you.

I really enjoyed this post and I am in awe of your multi-tasking skills. I can’t imagine what I’d come out looking like if I tried to do anything while putting on makeup or drying my hair or what our dinners might taste like! I see I still have much to learn about making the most of blogging.

Did you just say you follow around 100 blogs? Wow. Your commenting and following has paid off in your comment numbers.

I would say that commenting on other people's blogs helps, for sure. I would also like to say that your blog posts are short, sweet, to the point, and also interesting. You put a nice spin on your topics, keep it fresh, as well as find a way to spin it back to your readers so we WANT to comment. We want to weigh in. We want to share what we think about the subject.

I bow down before you. I have no idea where you find the time--even though you just told me. Uh, do you sleep?

Jean - sleep is definitely optional! I like short posts - anything too long and something is sure to interrupt what I'm reading/writing! Thanks Jean - you've been a very good buddy since I got online :)

Thanks Jemi, for the tips and thank you Diane, for providing the format. Great blog (love the name). I, too, like to respond to comments on the blog itself and always respond to a comment. The commenter may not come back to see if you've acknowledged them but I, myself, usually do. Email is OK too. I agree if there's no connection, what's the point?

That's how you seem to be commenting everywhere! I guess I'll have to carry my laptop around more. Thanks for the tips Jemi! I think the most important was "care about people". That's always the best advice for making friends.

Hmmm, I was here yesterday and thought I left a comment. Anyway, I agree blogging is a great way to make friends. I don't have to worry about what I look like or if I smell a bit funny on a particular day.

Great post, Jemi! I remember I put you in my "must read" folder in Google Reader the first time I "met" you! I love your comments on my blog, and I always enjoy reading your posts. You ask such great questions, it's hard for me to leave without commenting!